US Senate Confirms Iancu As Next Director of USPTO

By a vote of 94-0, the United States Senate on 5 February confirmed California intellectual property litigator Andrei Iancu as next director of the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The new Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property is currently managing partner of Irell & Manella LLP’s Los Angeles firm. The patent and trademark communities wished Iancu luck but said there are many issues at the agency that need his attention.

Iancu’s practice focused on IP litigation as well as patent and trademark prosecution, his bio says (https://www.irell.com/professionals-90.html). His clients came from across the technology spectrum, including those associated with medical devices, genetic testing, telephony and video game systems, it says. In addition, Iancu has taught patent law at the UCLA School of Law.